Hello again,

I'm having a real nightmare 9and i mean hair pulling out stuff!) sorting some winter tyres out for my car, a few local garages have been less than helpful.

I ordered some Nokian 205/55/16 91T winter tyres online to replace my current 205/55/16 91V but have since cancelled the order after hearing reports of lower speed rated tyres invalidating insurance and that lowering the spped ratingf potentially makes the car dangerous.

The hand book states lower rates tyres used for winter applications are fine, even if they are rated below the cars maximum speed, but it also states that tyres must haver been apporved by Skoda Auto and that they have access to the up to date list of approved tyres.

Does anyone know of such list?

Am I ok going from a V rated tyre to a T rated winter tyre ?

Are there likley to be any insurance implications?

What is VOSA's view should the time come for an MOT or if got caught speeding etc and police checked the vehicle over?

Cheers for the ongoing support and help!

The manual says it's fine. Which will probably be enough for your insurance company too.

Phone them and ask!!

I've not heard of a list of tyres 'approved' by Skoda either.

There is nothing dangerous or illegal about putting a lower speed rating on, provided your insurance company are OK with it.

Not seen an approved list but the spec must be right in all respects ie size, speed and load rating else insurance can refuse to pay out. Not even sure Octavia's in UK have winter tyre spec that they do in other EU countries.

Always a bit weird though as spare wheel is clearly not all these things above ie I have a steel tyre V rated spec as you describe as a spare to the Y rated 18 inch Neptunes that are are the standard fitting. Have ordered an 18 inch rim so I can have the same rim and tyre as a spare so I do not have to change every wheel twice to clean, remove stones etc.

Tyres must be exactly as spec described for that country for that model else insurance companies, police have a reason to not pay or do you as I have seen on multi-discipline road check exercises I have done with Dept Trans etc.

Edited 19 October, 201015 yr by lol

Not seen an approved list but the spec must be right in all respects ie size, speed and load rating else insurance can refuse to pay out. Not even sure Octavia's in UK have winter tyre spec that they do in other EU countries.

Always a bit weird though as spare wheel is clearly not all these things above ie I have a steel tyre V rated spec as you describe as a spare to the Y rated 18 inch Neptunes that are are the standard fitting. Have ordered an 18 inch rim so I can have the same rim and tyre as a spare so I do not have to change every wheel twice to clean, remove stones etc.

Tyres must be exactly as spec described for that country for that model else insurance companies, police have a reason to not pay or do you as I have seen on multi-discipline road check exercises I have done with Dept Trans etc.

I was thinking along the same lines as you which would mean hundreds of forums users are driving cars that potentially are un-insured and MOT failures. However logic dictates that Manufacturers (ie Skoda) are the overiding factor as they state lower rated tyres are fine for winter use.Even if they are rated below the maximum speed of the vehicle.

In fairness a lot of the websites im coming across, Kwik Fit included, state that it is the norm to have lower speed rated winter tyres but i can't find the letter of the law anywhere.

Minefield!!

Just a quick update,

I have spoken to a very helpful man at a reletivley new Tyre fitting franchise in Harrogate who states the norm for Winter tyres is a lower speed rating. He did state T was a lower speed rating than most winter tyres (H) but said there is no law stopping him fitting them or me using them. The only rule is common sense and that is not to drive over the 118mph limit which i cant see myself doing ,unless the car is stolen of course in which case I hope all four tyres go bang at the same time!

To be on the safe side i have e-mailed my insurance company (MORE THAN) and have a written email response from them stating that as long as the size tyre and load rating are as per manufactures spec a lower speed rating is acceptable. They said they do not need to issue another certificate with that on it,

Looks like it's fine to fit these Nokian tyres now!

Happy winter motoring!

To be on the safe side i have e-mailed my insurance company (MORE THAN) and have a written email response from them stating that as long as the size tyre and load rating are as per manufactures spec a lower speed rating is acceptable. They said they do not need to issue another certificate with that on it,

I'm glad they've said that, even though technically its slightly wrong since the load index is a function of speed. You can find V (and higher) rated CWTs in certain sizes, but as ever, the size of the market dictates the price, and they're generally wider than conventional "winter" (read snow biased) tyres. They do however give very reassuring cold weather handling in, say, a Porsche (I don't have one by the way). I prefer to maintain the feel of the road handling and let the 4x4 systems deal with the snow where I've got a slight disadvantage versus a thinner tyre, but where I'm also driving slower anyway.